, 1887-12-24

introduction into the island of st. Croix OF
labqurers of the class and description men
toned in the Ordinance of 18th February
1873, and the individual employing labourers
so introduced during the above mentioned
period defrays no part of the said expense.
'3' MOTIVES.
When out of a small agricultural district,
solely. depending upon all industry to which
manual labour has always been in a large
degree more necessary than to most other
agricultural productions, and which has
hitherto been supplied with labOur so en-
tirely at lowest rate; twenty per cent OF it
(and those the part in whom some ambi'
ton had vegetated) are drawn ont by taci-
litieS to sell raw produces III small quanti-
ties, that if these cannot be supplied by an
extra opportunity of importation, it must
create such a competition for the remain
ing available, (as a rule ~ihferior) balance,
ON the larger and better estates. AS to deS-
troy all distinction between equality aud
worth" and mere "human unthi"king ami
NAL powers" creating that notorious IRE
sponsibility' which is the result Of the ex-
listing labOur force and lis relations after q
long experience.
There is probably no country in existence
where the labOuring class has been, and is
kept, III such a complete state of irrespOn-
Sibility; one, destructive of all selfreliance,
caused by the ever ready demand for la
bour, fostered by the climate aud exist
{. ing circumstances, and encouraged by d
tacit objection to facilities for the impOrta-
lion of lab0ur on such IA scale, as to level
all compe tition for quantity ;thereby es-
tablishing one for quality.
1t is therefore self-evldent, that "a
real improvement must commence" when,
after the demand is supplied" a premium
will be given III the shape Of work to con
scientiOuS and faithful labOurerS, instead
as now a prize for animal strength and
faithlessness; also that if employers can
otherwise obtain sufficient labOur, they
would rather allow women to follow their
natural tendency, to be mothers Of families
instead of labOurerS in the field: thereby
causing a basis for Self-recruiting in future.
Considering therefore, how much, ac-
'cording to the above, Immigration is deSi-
rable as "a means for improvement; and as a
way to OBTAIN, by faithful labour, not alone
an actual reduction of wages, but an ang.
mentatiOn of produce, it will be seen that
the accumulated immigration Fund, might
De used for that assistance to landed pro-
prietors, in these extraordinary diScourag-
ing times, by defraying the entire expense
OF lmmigra ion for a sufficient time and to
encourage the continuation of an importa-
ton which is i'll danger Of cessation for
want of means.
Respectfully,
#trut G. LEVY.
3rG Member for C~hristiansted'S Country
District Leeuy) said AS introducer. of this
Draft he had only Il few more remarks to
add, which have become of Importance in
this nfatter.at a later dale than the time
Of the framing Of the original draft. When
ut that time 1t WAS found necessary by the
planters to Introduce the proposed mea-
sure, whereby we would endeavour to
secure All adequate supply of free
labOur, the Sugar Central Factory was in
the land of u Company, who more or less
'muSt be considered as being antagon:stic
TO plan tiers, in fact it was so lnuca so
tla t%here.night be- said to nave existed
what might be called a Planters League,
and a Factory League. Hereafter that
side of the question will be over, TIE 60
vernment on behalf If the Statetreasury
having since taken possession OF the Facto-
ry. This fact would not alter the necessity
of the measure involved in the Draft, but
it would rather tend to- enforce it stili more.
1t is, namely, evident, that the Statetrea-
sury when in'future conducting the .Facto-
ry will not do so as st mere mercantile nm
dertaking, but iJ is to he supposed that
1t will do SO not less in order to fulfil obi
gatlsns towards small farmers, who are
10 Re encoura ged to cultivate small por-
fiOnS of canpS and who 4oul1 otherwise